The Olympic diet (don't try this at home)

Reuters, Screengrab07.26.2012

Dig in! Turkish javelin thrower Fatih Avan and his daily spread.

Reuters
/ Screengrab

"I may have become an elite athlete with my good performances, but I can only be a great athlete if I can win an Olympic medal," says Fatih Avan. Avan complements his rigorous training schedule with a daily intake of 3,500 calories. "A good diet is essential for power," he says. "A correct and consistent diet proves its value in my training."REUTERS/Umit Bektas
/ Screengrab

Dylan Armstrong, shot-putter, Canada. He eats between 6,500 and 9,000 calories per day. "It is easy to eat a lot of calories," Armstrong said in an interview. "I like a lot of salmon, and obviously, beef and chicken. I am on a high-protein, low-carb diet. I eat five or six times a day."Stu Forster/Getty Images Europe
/ Screengrab

Binay's diet is largely composed of red meat. He also eats plenty of sweet desserts everyday and never misses a full breakfast. Shortly before competitions he supplements his diet with nutiritional aids and vitamin pills.Umit Bektas/REUTERS
/ Screengrab

Michael Phelps, swimmer, USA. “After morning practise I have a big breakfast: pancakes, waffles, cereal, bagels, eggs, everything,” The Daily Mail quoted Phelps, as saying. Lunch and dinner don't get any smaller. In fact, Phelps consumes a whooping 12,000 calories per day. “His cholesterol intake is very high but by constantly swimming, there is no time for the cholesterol to stick to his arteries," says Jenny Dawes, Phelps’ personal trainer, nutritionist and weight management expert . "His cholesterol levels do need to be checked regularly to ensure he is not putting his body at risk for future cardiovascular disease,” she adds.Al Bello/Getty Images Europe
/ Screengrab

Nur Tatar, Taekwondo fighter, Turkey. In preparation to compete for Turkey in the London 2012 Olympic Games, Tatar followed a strict diet to reach the exact weight category in which she will fight. She has reduced her daily calorie intake to 1500 kcal.REUTERS/Umit Bektas
/ Screengrab

Tyson Gay (center), sprinter, USA. A typical day includes six meals of 230g of protein, 308g of carbohydrates and 70g of fat and legal supplements. His bespoke diet is monitored by a nutritionist at EAS Sports Nutrition. "It is a diet plan to really set me up to be the best I can be," says Gay.Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe
/ Screengrab

Merve Aydin, 800-metre runner, Turkey. Her daily intake is 3000 kcal. "It is more important for me to realise my true potential and limitations. And do the best I can. I work hard and keep a careful diet," she says.REUTERS/Umit Bektas
/ Screengrab

Garrett Weber-Gale, swimmer, USA. He follows a mostly plant-based diet with weekly red meat and salmon to keep the haemoglobin count high. His day starts with one or two bowls of wholegrain cereal with rice milk and flax seeds. He snacks on almond milk with berries then has some dried mangoes or pineapples and a strawberry shake for training recovery. And then some oatmeal, almonds, peanut butter and jelly and scrambled eggs. And then he eats lunch, some more snacks and then dinner. "I have worked with nutritionists to learn what to eat, when to eat, and how to get all the protein, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins and other essential nutrients I need," he has said.Brian Bahr/Getty Images North America
/ Screengrab

Adam Nelson, shot-putter, USA. He consumes 300g of protein every day, over three-hour intervals. A typical day includes six to eight eggs, a cup or two of berries, coffee, an apple and a protein shake, a turkey sandwich with spinach and green and red peppers, and a glass of milk for lunch. For snack, he has leftovers from the night before. For dinner, he has a kilogram of salmon with grilled vegetables and rice. And before hitting the sack, he has another protein shake.Andy Lyons/Getty Images AsiaPac
/ Screengrab

Sarah Storey, Paralympic cyclist, UK. "I can be on the saddle for six hours [a day], so what I eat is crucial," she says. "For an event like end-to-end, where you are riding 90 to 130 miles (about 145 to 210km) a day for nine days, the fuel is not just for that day, it is also to make sure you are not in deficit the next morning," she adds. "So I eat protein every three hours and have jam sandwiches passed out from the support vehicle," she has said.Julian Finney/Getty Images AsiaPac
/ Screengrab

Bahri Tanrikulu, Taekwondo fighter, Turkey. This three-time world champion and a Olympic silver medallist has his heart set on a gold medal at the London Olympics. He supplements his daily diet of 3000 kcal with ergogenic aids and multivitamins.REUTERS/Umit Bektas
/ Screengrab

Fatih Avan (left), javelin thrower, Turkey. He eats at regular intervals throughout the day. His daily diet includes about four litres of water, a glass of milk, a glass of juice, large bowl of nuts, a roast chicken with salad greens, a sandwich, a steak, apples, bananas, cheese, eggs and vegetables.Claudio Villa/Getty Images Europe
/ Screengrab

Elif Jale Yesilirmak, wrestler, Turkey. She sticks to a 3000 kcal-a-day diet. "Instead of red meat I generally eat salmon. I believe fish is more healthy and nutritious. And also, lots of water. I drink a minimum of five litres of water every day," she says.REUTERS/Umit Bektas
/ Screengrab

Nick LaCava, lightweight rower, USA. "Everyone has their own crazy diet for cutting weight, but really it's simple: You have to use more calories than you take in," says LaCava. To compete, the 6'3" rower has to keep his weight down to 156 lbs. What does he eat on a typical day? Bowl of cereal, two eggs, oatmeal, yogurt, fruit for breakfast. Then a turkey sandwich with Swiss cheese and lettuce, carrots and spinach for lunch. His midday snack includes a banana and a Clif Bar. For dinner he has pasta, grilled chicken, salad with kale, spinach, carrots, mushrooms, and ice cream.US Rowing/Contributed Photo / CT
/ Screengrab

Almost Done!

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.